SOME UNUSUAL and CREATIVE IDEAS FOR KASHMIR — Some non-traditional strategies that might propel the Kashmir struggle into the (wider/world) media imagination –

An online game/simulation of the Kashmiri people’s struggle for basic services, human rights and freedom. This game would depict the situation faced by the ordinary people of Kashmir as they live under occupation in a heavily militarized situation. The scenarios could include: 24 hour shoot at sight curfews (game objective – you have to procure medicine or food under such circumstances without being shot or humiliated by the security forces) or running a newspaper (objective is to gather stories from the region under severe restrictions of all sorts). For inspiration see http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/16/china-game-family-fight-demolition“As social conflicts increase, governmental power is getting stronger and stronger as well and a lot of people are resentful about it. That’s why such a little game can resonate among so many people”.

Stones for a cause art and culture campaign that draws attention to Kashmir and the state of its people, many of whom can only resist oppression with stones. Use stones in any and every way to create art that raises consciousness about Kashmir globally. The options could include: making artwork from whatever stones one can find – message cards with pictures of stones on them, non-precious stone jewellery with a message, individuals and entities making/uploading/disseminating stone images, graffiti, stickers and sculptures, using the ‘stone’ logo on everything to indicate a support for the cause of Kashmir. For inspiration see http://www.joinred.com/red/ (campaign that puts the ‘RED’ logo onto things as an awareness, and fund, raising mechanism). My own contribution are images of stone-pelters with stone with the title: ‘A stone for your silence. Another for the violence’. Here’s a link http://photos.nitashakaul.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=402828

Create a variant/deviant genre of ‘Human Rights Music’ Harness the power of Music (not just music as songs, but anti-music, or ‘Sounds of Silencing’). Apart from the ongoing use of online forums – youtube, facebook, twitter – promoting new kinds of sounds online that draw attention to the way people live under occupation. The options could include: Remixed recorded sounds of screams, gunfire, chants, everyday streets and then putting them online on ‘occupation experiences’ that people could download and listen to. If you think this is outlandish, you need to read about people selling their souls online. At the very least, unusual activity in the virtual world can give greater visibility and access to non-traditional audiences. We already have a Kashmiri Hiphop artist from Srinagar – McKash – singing ‘I Protest’ http://www.reverbnation.com/mckashkashmir Similarly, there could be a website that collects only audio clips of violence and tragedy; ‘sounds of silencing’, and ‘sounds of suffering’. People are too saturated with images – both still and moving – and perceive them through filters of expectations about a conflict zone. The audio/sounds just by themselves can transport imagination more, as listeners have to pay more attention.Some of them might let their MPs know! In case you want to let your MP know and raise the question of Human Rights in Kashmir, here’s how to do it. It can’t be any easier: https://nitashakaul.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/writing-to-your-mp-about-kashmir-it-couldnt-be-easier/

As above, with Sports. People care for sports, it moves them passionately in the same way causes do. Mix Football (or Cricket, depending on audience) + Kashmir injustice somehow! Here’s something I heard on twitter (@oxbloodruffin): ‘Shoot a Kashmiri, win a prize’ free T-shirt outside CWG games (Commonwealth games to be held in Delhi soon). Of course, I might add, one would have to make sure that Indians don’t really start clamouring to claim their prizes!

Please circulate to others. There are so many creative people out there – Kashmiris and others – that I am sure something can be done! 🙂